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墨書 Inktalez
In the Medicine Hall, there were only the two of them, the candlelight dim and flickering.
Pei Guanjing gently lifted the wick, his movements soft and practiced. As the wick was raised, the light gradually brightened. Ye Chen rested his hands on the high counter, his delicate, translucent skin illuminated in an instant. His fair face appeared particularly gentle under the warm candlelight, a beauty like jade, with bright eyes and pearly teeth, standing just a foot away from Pei Guanjing.
"You seemed to agree with their remarks earlier," Pei Guanjing said, setting down the Medical Book. He meticulously tidied up the remaining medicinal residue on the table while casually inquiring.
Ye Chen paused for a moment, the clarity of his dark eyes reflecting the earlier comments made by those in the Medical Camp regarding the Regent and King Huai'an issuing the Promotion Edict together.
As Pei Guanjing was the adopted son of the Regent, he likely knew some background information about this Promotion Edict before it was announced. They were certainly aware of its drawbacks but still chose to implement this policy, undoubtedly because there was a lack of talented individuals in court and the dominance of noble families necessitated a temporary measure to distribute power.
If he were to tell Pei Guanjing about the Imperial Examination System, would he consider it? Missing this opportunity might lead to Pei Guanjing overthinking if he brought it up later. Since Pei Guanjing had initiated this topic himself, he wouldn’t think too much about it if Ye Chen spoke up now. Moreover, if Pei Guanjing adopted this policy, it could contribute to accelerating the progress of thought in this era.
After some contemplation, Ye Chen smiled faintly and said, "Master, I believe they are not entirely wrong."
Pei Guanjing furrowed his brow slightly, a hint of imperceptible doubt flashing in his eyes. "Oh? Do you also think that the policy from Regent and King Huai'an is inappropriate?"
Ye Chen nodded firmly. "Indeed, it is inappropriate."
Hearing Ye Chen's confident response, Pei Guanjing smiled. He accurately tossed the neatly wrapped medicinal residue into a nearby waste bin before turning back to Ye Chen with a cool gaze. "What is inappropriate about it? Is it as they said?"
Ye Chen nodded and then shook his head. "Yes and no. This Promotion Edict can recommend talents for a time but cannot endorse enduring capabilities. Decades later, it is likely that noble families will still hold power in court while imperial authority remains weak. It can only quench immediate thirst but does not ensure that talented children from humble households will have their day in future generations."
Intrigued by this perspective, Pei Guanjing wiped his hands clean of the leftover medicinal residue. He then gestured for Ye Chen to sit down. "So what do you think can achieve lasting merit rather than just focusing on the present?"
Ye Chen had initially hoped to dissuade his opponent, believing that with his experience and insight, it was rare for someone to express such thoughts, deserving of his attention. However, Ye Chen's remarks sparked a desire in Pei Guanjing to engage him in a serious discussion.
In the past, if someone had told him he would discuss matters of state and governance with a Kun Ze, he would have thought they were joking. A thirteen or fourteen-year-old Kun Ze was like a lamb waiting for slaughter; the idea of prey conversing with the hunter was simply laughable.
But now—Ye Chen had proven him wrong.
Once seated, Ye Chen seemed liberated, launching into an animated discourse. “Currently, there are many vacancies in the court. Most officials are from noble families, and the imperial power is fragmented, which poses a significant risk. While selecting talented Humble Household youths is not inherently wrong, this Promotion Edict is far from ideal. In my opinion, we should adopt the Imperial Examination System instead.”
With each statement from Ye Chen, Pei Guanjing's interest grew incrementally.
“The Imperial Examination System?” Pei Guanjing raised an eyebrow. “Could you elaborate?”
“Um… it involves conducting examinations that start at the local government level and progress through regional prefectures to the capital for final assessments, selecting capable and practical individuals for official positions,” Ye Chen summarized succinctly, delivering a statement that left Pei Guanjing astonished.
For a long moment, Pei Guanjing stared at Ye Chen in silence. The darkness in his gaze deepened, and the cold atmosphere surrounding him seemed poised to freeze the air itself. Just as Ye Chen began to feel uneasy under his scrutiny, Pei Guanjing suddenly smiled.
“I never expected my Disciple to possess such astonishing ideas. How intriguing!” He said as he stood up, placing both hands on Ye Chen's shoulders and gripping them firmly. Leaning slightly forward, he looked deeply into Ye Chen's eyes. “You are quite impressive, Ye Chen.”
“Ha ha… Master flatters me,” Ye Chen chuckled awkwardly. He felt somewhat uncomfortable under Pei Guanjing's direct praise.
Pei Guanjing's gaze was too intense, making Ye Chen feel as though he were not being complimented but rather observed like a famished wolf suddenly encountering a tempting piece of meat.
Even after Pei Guanjing had left, Ye Chen still felt a chill running down his spine, an unsettling tremor lingering within him.
Thinking about spending the night in the tent separated only by a wooden board from Pei Guanjing sent a chill down Ye Chen's spine.
He hoped that his remarks would prompt Pei Guanjing and the Regent to discuss changes to their Promotion Edict. Since he had come to this world and become a part of it, he wanted to contribute to the progress of this era in any way he could.
However, this was merely an ideal scenario. How many people in a feudal dynasty would be willing to lower themselves to listen to the suggestions of an unknown individual?
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